The University of Montana women's soccer team punched its ticket to the 2006 Big Sky Conference Tournament with a 1-0 win over Eastern Washington, Sunday, Oct. 29, in Cheney, Wash.

"We are excited to be in the tournament. This was where we wanted to be at the beginning of the year," said coach Neil Sedgwick.

The Grizzlies (10-8-1, 4-2-1) will face Sacramento State (10-7-2, 4-2-1) in the No. 2 vs. No. 3 seed game, Friday, Nov. 3rd, at 10 a.m. The two teams battled to a 1-1 tie during the regular season on Oct. 13 in Sacramento, Calif.

"It was a good game the first time we played them. We will be excited to play, and I know they will be as well," said Sedgwick.

The Grizzlies missed qualifying for the conference tournament in 2005 after finishing as tournament runner-ups in 2004. Montana has appeared in eight Big Sky tournaments, more than any other team.

Idaho State (9-8-0, 5-2-0), the regular season champions, will host the tournament and will face Weber State (9-6-3, 4-2-1) at 1 p.m. Friday.

The winners of both matches will face each other for the championship match, Sunday Nov. 5 at noon. The tournament champion will automatically qualify for the NCAA Tournament.

Senior Kristina Lamberty scored the lone goal of the match in the 74th minute for the Grizzlies. The goal was her third of the season. Junior Carrie Lee picked up her first assist of the season on the goal.

Montana out-shot Eastern Washington, 20-12, in a cold match that featured harsh winds.

Lamberty took a match-high six shots and senior Lindsay Winans added five.

M??ily Reiter and Shelly Ikerd each had a team-high two shots for the Eagles.

Freshman Grace Harris made six saves as she posted her seventh shutout of the season, third most by a UM goalkeeper in a single season.

Tiera Como made ten saves and allowed one goal for Eastern Washington.